Residential comparison · 13 facts
Melbourne, FL vs Merritt Island, FL
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Melbourne needs about $81,000 in Merritt Island to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Merritt Island, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $89,000 in Melbourne.
A few differences
- Merritt Island is higher on median household income ($94,012 vs $66,991).
- Melbourne is lower on cost of living index (99 vs 102).
- Merritt Island is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,397/mo vs $1,572/mo).
Melbourne vs Merritt Island · facet by facet
| Facet | Melbourne, FL | Merritt Island, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $306,400 | $402,900 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,572/mo | $1,397/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| State & local income tax | 0% | 0% |
| Sales tax | 7% | 7% |
| Cost of living index | 99 | 102 |
| Groceries index | 103 | 103 |
| Utilities | $180/mo | $180/mo |
| Median household income | $66,991 | $94,012 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.3% |
| Crime index | 45/100 | 45/100 |
| School rating | 5.8/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 240 days | 240 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Melbourne, FL · Merritt Island, FL
Questions & answers
- Is Melbourne cheaper than Merritt Island?
- Melbourne has the lower day-to-day cost index (99 vs 102 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Merritt Island equals $85,000 in Melbourne?
- A household earning $85,000 in Melbourne needs about $81,000 in Merritt Island to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Merritt Island lifestyle costs about $89,000 in Melbourne.